Staycation 2010

Statistics released by VisitEngland from the UK Tourism Survey claim to show that the “staycation” phenomenon was a reality last summer. The number of holiday trips taken by Britons within England in the three peak summer months was up by 22%. The amount spent increased by 20%, compared with the same period in 2008. A rise in family holidays was also recorded, with a 33% increase in trips made by households with children.

So far so good but what about 2010 will people having faced one of the toughest winters for decades be content with the unpredictable UK weather. Well, there are plenty of reasons why they should. Here are just the top 5!

1. Self catering is in. People like to eat what they like to eat and we are getting more accomplished at preparing it and since you can buy pretty much anything you like to eat at any of the larger population centres you won't find yourself eating things you don't like or that aren't prepared how you want them.

2. The Eurozone still looks frighteningly expensive by comparison to the UK, the Euro, at tourist rates, is still almost at parity with the pound which makes travel and specifically hotels, food and drink in Europe feel like a luxury purchase.

3. The quality of food and drink on offer in the UK hospitality market is significantly better than it was even 5 years ago. The choice is wider and quality is higher for those who can afford to eat out.

4. The sustainability argument of staying in the UK carries weight with an ever larger number of customers. Air travel which it has to be said is becoming more efficicent with every new aeroplane, is considered to be worse for the environment than staying at home. Price sensitivity will in the end be overtaken by green sensitivity.

5. The summer of 2010 will be a time of uncertainty, the election will have gone through and regardless of the flavour of government austerity will be a requirement to get the economy back in its cage, this combined with VAT increases, interest rates and inflation are likely to create an unpredictable second half to the year. Customers are likley to remain defensive following the lower cost lifestyles they have had to adopt over the past year and half.